Gang bust in Richmond County

Authorities in eastern Georgia are in the middle of a sting targeting people they say are involved in gang activity. They're rounding up nearly 100 people on drugs and weapons charges.

Officials with the U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms say it's the second largest bust of its kind in U.S. history.

Richmond County sheriff's deputies and federal agents say the defendants are mostly gang members.

The undercover operation, called Augusta Ink, took place over 16 months at a tattoo parlor set up by police in the Richmond County town of Hephzibah. Dubbed the Colur Tyme tattoo parlor, police say they set it up in area where there was gang activity and where gang members lived.

"Violence, gun trafficking and drug dealing were the main ingredients of these gangs and their criminal lifestyle. They preyed on those with addictions and took advantage of the weak and defenseless for their own selfish gain," said Vanessa McLemore, special agent in charge of the ATF's Atlanta bureau.

In all, authorities confiscated about 400 weapons, 54 pounds of marijuana and nearly 1200 grams of cocaine.